How to Level Your Image on Fabric for the Embroidery Machine

In this Instructable you will learn how to attach an embroidery hoop to your fabric so your image will be stitched parallel to the top and bottom of your fabric.

Lay the fabric you plan on embroidering on a flat surface which has two perpendicular lines, in this case I am using a cutting mat as my reference.  Square up your fabric along a vertical and horizontal line.

Lay ruler over fabric and line up both edges of the ruler along a horizontal line of your cutting mat or other reference guide.  Use fabric chalk or pen to draw a line along the ruler.

Place the hoop on your fabric without tightening the hoop.  Place the grid guide over the upper portion of your hoop and move the fabric around until the line drawn directly on the fabric lines up with a horizontal line on the grid guide.

Remove the grid guide and tighten the hoop over your fabric.

Once you have tightened the hoop, attach to the embroidery machine.  Your image will be parallel to the top and bottom of your fabric.